Letter – Jonathan Hilton to Germaine Lavie – 12 Jul 1775

A Copy of a Letter sent Mr Lavie				12th July 1775



Sir,

Since I see you we have had the misfortune of having the Sill we get the Ore in Thrown down by a Cross Vein the Ore in the forehead almost quite cut at which forehead was let to Jos Renwick & Ptners at 12s p Bing as you will see in my Letter of the 4th April last & as that was the case they give up their Bargain so we let them 5 Fathom, to drive in hopes of the sill rising to its former Height but on driving that 5 fathom we lost the sill Intirely underfoot & as we could not sink to the sill for Water was obliged to come back & take a Drift out of the last Sum under the firestone sill and to boar a hole into that drift in order to clear us of Water which drift & Boarhole are now both finished & we Intend beginning to sink in to the sill & try the Vein this throw down of the sills we emagion hath been the Cause of the old Mans loosing his Workings owing to the want of Level to take away his Water. The forehead have raised very little Ore this Quarter taking 6 Men to drive the above Drift under the Firestone which Men were raising Ore in the Roofs makes the Quantity of Ore raised the Last Quarter much less than we expected we think it will not exceed 500 Bings.

The above is the truest & best Accounts I can at Present give when any thing Material Happens shall let you know.

      I am &ca Jona Hilton